If colors on your Windows 10 screen look washed out, too warm, or oddly tinted, a changed setting is usually to blame: a color profile, Night light, a high contrast theme, or the graphics driver’s own color controls. Resetting each one returns the display to normal. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027.
Quick Answer
Search Start for Color Management, open the Advanced tab, click Change system defaults if needed, then Reset my settings to the system default. Also turn off Night light and High contrast, and reset color in your graphics control panel.
How to Reset Color Settings on Windows 10
- Search Start for Color Management and open it.
- On the Devices tab, select your display, check Use my settings for this device, and remove any custom profiles you did not add.
- On the Advanced tab, click Reset my settings to the system default.
- Open Settings, System, Display, and turn off Night light; then open Ease of Access, High contrast, and make sure it is off.
- Open your graphics control panel (from the desktop right-click menu or Start) and restore its color defaults, then restart.
Common Color Problems
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Yellow or orange tint | Night light is on |
| Inverted or stark colors | High contrast or color filters |
| Washed out | Wrong color profile or HDR setting |
| Oversaturated | Graphics driver color settings |
| Only on one monitor | That monitor’s own menu settings |
Troubleshooting
- Colors change back after restart: a graphics utility may be reapplying a profile. Reset it in that utility too.
- Colors are grayscale: turn off Color filters in Settings, Ease of Access, Color filters (or press Windows+Ctrl+C).
- To change the desktop picture after resetting, see how to set wallpaper on Windows 10.
- For taskbar colors, read how to make the taskbar transparent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will resetting colors affect my files?
No. It only changes display settings.
Should I calibrate my display?
Use Calibrate display in Color Management if colors still look off after resetting.
Does the monitor have its own settings?
Yes. Use the monitor’s menu buttons to reset it to factory defaults as well.
Summary
- Reset Color Management.
- Turn off Night light and High contrast.
- Reset graphics driver colors.
- Restart and check.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.